Avatar the Last Airbender: Wherever You May Be

A/N: Right, so it's been a while since my last update, sorry! Still on that BLEACH kick, so this story is being pushed to the backburners. Also, school has started ( I should be working on a class project, but I'm procrastinating by posting this), so my free time is shrinking once again.

Thanks to Lady Sai who has posted a few pieces of fanart for this story through her DeviantArt page. If you are interested, I'm adding the links through my profile page.

I have found the song for this story! It's called 'Sen no Yoru wo Koete' which translates into "Live Through the Thousand Nights". I heard it originally in BLEACH: Memories of Nobody, but it's a song about not being able to tell the person you love "I love you", so I thought it fits somewhat with this story. Anyways, go check it out on YouTube if you want (it's in Japanese of course, but it is a nice song).

Enjoy!

Wherever You May Be

Chapter 10


The next few days were blissfully busy for the two. Zuko wanted to spend as much time as possible with Jiro and Lady Tien and Katara avoided Zuko by spending time with the women in the village.

They would spar in the morning with his broadswords, but thankfully they didn't talk too much besides casual taunting and Katara would leave for whoever she was visiting while Zuko practiced his firebending. When they were alone Katara avoided bringing up what had happened that day outside Lady Tien's house and Zuko didn't attempt it though she caught him watching her several times with an indescribable look on his face.

Jiro had taken an interest in learning the broadswords after he saw Zuko with them once so the two brothers had something to take up their time during the day. At night Katara would join them at Lady Tien's house for dinner, explaining to the villagers that asked that Lady Tien was an old family friend of 'Lee's' that they hadn't known was living here.

Sparring was the most enjoyable thing happening to her she realized five days after finding Jiro. It helped relieve the tension eating away at her self-control and it helped replace her bending which she had always relied on in the past as a way to calm herself. The continuing absence of her bending was wearing on her mentally and physically, so she enjoyed the ability to let her body go through the actions without thought, even if it was with a blade rather than water. The snow was becoming slick under their feet from the compacting it had gone through after several days of training, making it even harder for them to avoid hurting each other but increasing the challenge of the duel.

"And what makes you think you can smirk?" Zuko asked, pushing the hair in his eyes back only to have the short bangs return to their position. They had both shed their bulky jackets a few minutes ago and were dressed in their regular clothing so when the strong gusts came down from the mountains it caused both of them to shiver. At the same time neither was willing to prove to be the weaker one by wearing the garment that would hinder them in the fight.

"The fact that I'm about to win this fight," she told him, closing the distance between them suddenly. Their swords met in a flash of silver before separating, but Katara kept on with her offensive approach, panting as she tried to pin Zuko in one of their makeshift corners. He met all of her parries and tried to force her into defense, but she twirled away from a wide swipe of his sword before sneaking in close to him where there wouldn't be enough space for him to counter her attack.

She aimed her sword for his right hand, twisting it at the last second so the hilt to land and not the blade. Before she realized what happened, Zuko tossed his sword to his left hand and grabbed her right hand with his now empty one. He easily maneuvered her so she unwillingly twisted in his hold and Zuko pulled her so her back was flush against him, her right hand incapacitated in his hold and his left arm wrapped around her so that hers was pinned against her body.

"You were saying?" he asked from above her, chuckling. They were both panting from the fight and Katara was uncomfortably aware of his entire body pressed snug against her back. He had even taken away her ability to use her legs by using his right leg to keep her legs far enough apart that if she tried to change her stance she would be off-center and fall over. "Seems I won this one too."

"Arrogant prince," she taunted, still trying to move her left arm. Zuko just tightened his hold on her, his arm pressing against her chest. She flushed as Zuko shifted but didn't let go, his breath tickling her cheek as he bent down.

"Stubborn peasant," he whispered huskily into her ear and Katara couldn't prevent the shiver that raced through her.

She twisted her head to look at him only to jerk back when she saw Zuko hadn't straightened up and their faces were barely separated. Her breath hitched in her throat as she met his gaze, finding his eyes blazing as he stared at her. Slowly he removed the little space there was between them and his lips firmly, but gently grazed hers before he pulled back far enough to separate contact but no further.

Katara heard a soft whimper and it wasn't until Zuko twisted her around so he could kiss her again did she realize the sound had come from her. She went limp as Zuko sucked gently on her bottom lip, her sword falling forgotten to the ground as she reached up to grab a fistful of his shirt to pull him closer to her even as she opened herself to him. They came together fiercely, the tension that had been building for over a week driving both of them to seek dominance. Their tongues clashed and invaded in a primitive dance that left Katara shaking and she pressed herself against Zuko, feeling the heat almost rolling off him.

Zuko pulled back enough Katara could feel her lips chill almost immediately, even as Zuko's breath drifted over her face. She stared up at him before releasing his shirt to grab his head and pull him back down for another kiss. She didn't want to stop, because stopping meant thinking and in this moment, she didn't want reality to return.

"Katara," Zuko groaned as he separated from her again, but trailed kisses along her cheekbones down to her jaw.

"Don't stop," she begged, keeping her eyes closed. "Don't make me remember…"

"Remember what?" Zuko asked as he kissed her quickly before pulling back.

"That's you're not mine," Katara whispered, her hands cradling his face so she could feel his scar even as she still kept her eyes closed. She was starting to breathe harder, but sighed as Zuko returned to kiss her for a minute before pulling away so their lips were barely touching.

"I'm yours," he whispered and Katara's eyes flew open to meet his. Zuko was staring at her, his hand coming up to gently cup her face.

"No, you're not." It was just like last time she realized as tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She twisted out of Zuko's hold, nearly falling to the ground because her legs were shaking before straightening to look at him. He was panting as he stared at her, frowning as if confused and that just made her hurt even more. "You're not mine, Zuko, so why…why do you keep doing this to me?"

Turning, she raced towards the hut and had just opened the door when she was felt Zuko grab her and pin her against him. She struggled and was able to break his grip on her wrist, but before she could remove herself he wrapped his arms around her again, immobilizing her for a second time that day. She panted, trying to get her breath back even as she started to shake as the heat from inside started to seep into her.

"Katara."

"Please Zuko, let me go," she nearly begged, gasping around the words as the old ache came back.

"No," he told her, turning her so they were facing each other again. She kept her gaze lowered to the wooden floor before Zuko grabbed her chin and lifted her gaze. The tears she had been fighting slid down her cheeks as she stared at him before she closed her eyes, holding back the sobs trying to escape.

"Are you trying to be cruel, Zuko?" she asked around fractured breaths and felt Zuko stiffen. "Because I don't think I can take this."

"No!" Zuko said in surprise. "Dammit Katara, you know I would never hurt you!"

"Then leave me alone!" she yelled at him, twisting her arm back enough to punch him as hard as she could. He stumbled back from the blow and hit the door as Katara continued to clench her hand, ignoring the pain radiating from it. "Stop messing with me like this!"

"I'm not messing with you," he yelled back, glaring down at her.

"Yes, you are!" she cried, wiping away the tears running down her face before grabbing a fistful of her hair as she closed her eyes. The physical pain did little to calm her and she exhaled harshly, wishing she had her bending to help her relieve her frustration. "In case you forgot, you're currently engaged and I refuse to play the other woman."

"What if I told you she was the other woman?" he growled, suddenly turning predatory as he straightened to his full height. Katara wasn't quick enough to avoid him and she gasped as he turned her, using his full weight to pin her against the wall. "I can't stop thinking of you, dreaming of you, since the day you left! You, not Mai!"

"Ha, right," she bit out, hating that she couldn't think of anything better to say. She wanted to say something painful to him, to drive him away from her so that he wouldn't try to get close enough to hurt her again. "The year and a half since then shows how sincere you are, doesn't it Zuko?"

"You're so damn stubborn," Zuko hissed as he grabbed her chin before kissing her, forcing his way past her tight lips.

Katara tried to pull back but he kept his grip firm, not giving her any room as he tilted her head back as he swept through her mouth with his tongue. She let out a soft whine, her resistance fading under the assault as she reached up to grab his hair in her hands, pressing herself into him as much as she could. He finally released his grip on her chin only to grab her waist, lifting her off the ground and she wrapped her legs around his hips to secure herself.

"Do you feel it?" Zuko growled into her neck, not lifting his head as he held her pinned to the wall. Katara opened her mouth to protest only to let out a soft mewl as a Zuko slipped one of his hands under her shirt, only her thin bindings separated their flesh. "Do you deny how right this feels?"

"N-no," she groaned, unable to deny something that had haunted her for over a year and a half.

"I want you, Katara, not Mai. It hasn't been Mai for years," he whispered into her ear softly and Katara closed her eyes as a shiver of lust and wanting washed over her. She knew she shouldn't trust his words, but to the spirits, she wanted to believe him so bad. "I haven't been with her since you visited and even months before that."

"Zuko," she groaned, twisting his head so she could kiss him. She wanted what he was offering, she decided, consequences be damned. "Please…I want you. I need you."

"You're mine," he told her and Katara almost swore it was a promise in his voice before he kissed her fiercely and the last of their rational thoughts disappeared.

sSs

She dozed only briefly, finally stirring from her sex-induced slumber as cold air nipped at her exposed skin. The length of her pressed against Zuko was warm from the natural heat he always gave up but as she shivered she finally found the will to order her muscles to obey her. Slowly detangling herself from his hold, she was about to slide off the bed when a warm arm wrapped around her waist and an equally warm hand covered her stomach.

"Where are you going?" Zuko murmured and she twisted to see him watching her through half-lidded eyes.

"Not far," she told him. "I just need to clean up."

Zuko blinked at her before swearing softly, pushing himself upright as he stared at her. She waved him away as she stood, wincing slightly as muscles not used until recently protested.

"I'm sorry, I know better," he said and Katara shook her head.

"Its fine," she told him as she did quick math in her head, figuring she was a week and a half away from her most fertile time. She grabbed his shirt and pulled it on, more for warmth than modesty. "It's just to be safe."

"Would you like warm water?" he finally asked softly and Katara warmed up the bucket of water with his firebending before building up the dying fire. Grabbing his boots she walked over to him, smirking as she held them out to him.

"How about going and getting your swords and our parkas?"

"I don't get to watch?" he asked and Katara pushed him out of the bedroom. She made her ablutions quick, happy she was able to prevent Zuko from seeing the faint trace of blood on the inside of her thighs and was just finishing when the bedroom door opened and Zuko entered, pushing his slightly damp hair from his face.

"It's starting to snow?" she asked and he nodded as he joined her in front of the fireplace. He buried his hands in her hair before bending to kiss her softly, almost reverently as he kept it light and slow. After a few minutes she shivered as the cold started to seep back into her, even with the fire and Zuko to keep her warm.

Without saying anything he pulled her back over to the bed and grabbed the discarded blankets and pillows from the floor before pulling her down with him as he lay out on the mattress. She happily curled around him so she had one arm resting on his chest while her legs were entwined with his again and sighed as he settled the blankets over them. The arm wrapped around her snuck up under the loose shirt to rest lightly on her lower back, tracing slow circles that helped heat up her chilled skin.

Glancing up at him she winced before reaching up and gently touching the bruise forming on his cheek. Even after such a short period of time the pale skin was already darkening and would be a full-bloomed bruise before long.

"You have a good right hook," he commented lightly and Katara grinned up at him.

"Toph taught me," she told him, causing him to chuckle. Thinking how easy it would be to heal with her bending, she rested her forehead against Zuko's shoulder so he couldn't see her frown in frustration. It really felt like one of her arms was missing and she took a deep breath to dissipate the pain gathering in her chest.

"Katara?"

"Its nothing," she told him softly, hearing the worry in his voice. As the warmth from Zuko and the fire seeped into her, Katara sighed softly and was drifting off to sleep when knocking suddenly came from the door. Sitting up, she watched Zuko grab a shirt as he motioned her to stay behind, leaving her along in the bedroom. She heard the outside door open and close then the bedroom door opened again and Zuko reappeared frowning.

"Who is it?" she asked softly, pushing her hair from her face as she watched him.

"Jiro. I was supposed to meet him this morning," Zuko told her stiffly as he ran his hand through his hair. He joined her at the bed, sitting down to pull on his boots before pulling her over for a kiss. She relaxed against him before sighing as he pulled back, brushing a light kiss on her forehead. "Sorry."

"Don't be," she told him, shaking her head. "He's your brother, Zuko. Go spend time with him."

"I…" Zuko started, staring at her intently. Katara watched as he shook his head before bending and kissing her again. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Oh, yes," she promised with a smirk, brushing her hand over his lap and hearing him suck in a sharp breath at the action. She nipped at his neck before pulling back and sitting next to him calmly, motioning towards the door. "Your brother is waiting."

Zuko exhaled before standing, shooting her a glare before leaving the bedroom. Alone, she drew her legs up to her chest and stared at the fire when she heard talking before the outside door opened and closed, taking Zuko and Jiro with it. She hummed as she stared at the fire, wondering what Zuko had wanted to say before he had sidetracked to "see you tonight" before dismissing it, climbing off the bed.

She had few women in the village expecting her to drop in and Lady Tien had just been added to the top of the list of priorities.

sSSs

Ending A/N: So it's shorter than the last few chapters, but at least Katara and Zuko are finally together! It's also the one part that has gone through massive re-editing several times so I'm sorry if it is a little rough, I've tried to smooth it out as much as possible. It also came out a lot cleaner than I expected, but I think it works for the story.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon and its creators. I just muddy the waters a bit.